Willow TV is the go-to live sports streaming service for avid cricket fans. It broadcasts major cricket leagues around the world, from the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash League to the Ashes and Cricket World Cup. While there are various ways to get Willow TV, we’ll focus on how to watch cricket on Sling TV with Willow TV in this guide.
Before we delve into our discussion, bear in mind that Sling TV is exclusively available to cricket fans in the U.S. Therefore, if you love cricket and are outside the country, you’ll need one of the best VPNs, such as ExpressVPN, to unblock Sling TV.
Key Takeaways: Stream Cricket on Sling TV
- Sling TV offers packages that carry Willow TV. The packages that broadcast purely cricket are more affordable than those that provide other content as well.
- Sling TV is only available in the U.S. You’ll need a VPN to access the streaming service from outside the U.S.
- ExpressVPN is the best VPN to access Sling TV outside of the U.S. However, it’s pricey, and that’s where affordable options such as NordVPN come in. You can also try Proton VPN — the best free VPN with U.S. servers.
We’ll show you how to access Sling TV outside the U.S. using a virtual private network (VPN). Don’t worry; we won’t leave you guessing which VPN is best for streaming live cricket matches. We’ll discuss three VPNs that work flawlessly with Sling TV, so keep reading.
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You can watch cricket on Sling TV with Willow TV or ESPN.
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Yes, Sling TV offers live television packages with Willow channels: Willow HD and Xtra.
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You’ll be spoiled for choice. You can watch major cricket leagues worldwide, including IPL, Cricket Australia, Bangladesh Cricket, Cricket South Africa and West Indies.
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There are numerous streaming services to watch live cricket in the USA, but none rival Willow TV. Willow TV is the go-to channel for cricket matches, featuring the best teams in various leagues worldwide.
How to Watch Cricket on Sling TV: Willow TV Live Streaming
Sling TV offers three packages: Sling Blue, Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue. Sadly, none of these packages carries Willow TV channels, meaning that you can’t watch cricket matches with the packages. However, you can watch highlights and other on-demand content on Sling’s free catch-up TV content.
Since none of these packages include Willow TV channels by default, you’ll need one of the add-ons. For example, if you subscribe to Sling Orange, you can add the Willow Cricket mini or World Sports mini add-on. Both add-ons carry Willow HD and Willow Extra, and cost an additional $5 per month.
Alternatively, you can get one of the international base services Sling offers:
- World Sports $10/month (includes Willow Xtra and Willow HD)
- Panorama Italiano ($5/month) + World Sports Extra ($5/month) to add Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Willow Cricket ($10/month, $7 for the first month) includes Willow Extra and Willow HD only
- Urdu Pack ($10/month) — Includes Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Bangla Super ($15/month) — Includes WillowXtra and Willow HD
- Desi Binge Plus ($15/month, $10 for the first month) — Includes Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Marathi ($18/month) — Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Dakshin ($20/month, $10 for the first month) — Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Dakshin Mega ($25/month) — Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Punjabi Super ($24.99/month) — Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Hindi ($30/month) — Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Hindi Mega ($44.99/month) — Willow Xtra and Willow HD
- Urdu-Hindi ($30/month) — Willow Xtra and Willow HD
The live TV package that works best for you depends on what other content you want to watch besides cricket on Willow TV. If you need to watch cricket alone, your best bet is World Sports or Willow Cricket — two of the most affordable Sling TV packages.
However, if you want to watch cricket and savor some Indian content, there are South Asian packages for you too. Plus, if you want to watch cricket in other languages, such as Italian, the Panorama Italiano base package will be handy. The choice is yours.
Willow Cricket Schedule
Regardless of your package, you’ll watch your favorite cricket matches and cheer on your teams as they square off in popular cricket leagues and tournaments. Willow is the official broadcaster of major leagues, including:
T20 World Cup
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Sri Lanka Cricket
Cricket Australia
England Cricket Board
Cricket South Africa
Bangladesh Cricket Board
Zimbabwe Cricket
Pakistan Cricket Board
The channel guarantees hundreds of live cricket matches every year. Head over to the Willow TV website for some important dates for live cricket streaming in 2023. Here’s a sneak peek at the Willow TV schedule:
- TATA IPL 2023: March 31 – May 28, 2023
- FairBreak Invitational T20 2023: April 03 – April 16, 2023
- New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2023: April 14 – May 07, 2023
- Ireland tour of England 2023: June 01 – June 04, 2023
- The Ashes 2023: June 16 – July 31, 2023
- Women Ashes 2023: June 22 – July 18, 2023
- The Hundred Mens Competition 2023: Aug. 01 – Aug. 27, 2023
- The Hundred Womens Competition 2023: Aug. 01 – Aug. 27, 2023
- New Zealand tour of England 2023: Aug. 30 – Sept. 15, 2023
- Sri Lanka Women Tour of England 2023: Sept. 02 – Sept. 19, 2023
- Ireland tour of England 2023: Sept. 20 – Sept. 26, 2023
- Pro Panja League 2023: June 08 – June 25, 2023
How to Watch Live Cricket on Sling TV With a Willow TV Subscription
In this section, we’ll show you how to create a Sling TV account and subscribe to one of the affordable packages to live stream cricket on Willow HD or Willow Extra outside the U.S. We’ll use ExpressVPN — the best VPN for streaming live sports on Sling TV.
- Download and Install a VPN App
Subscribe to one of the best VPNs for streaming, preferably one with servers in the U.S. Download and install the VPN app on your device.
- Complete the Setup
Complete the setup and connect to a server in the United States.
- Create a Sling TV Account
Do a DNS leak test to confirm you have a U.S. IP address. If everything looks okay, head to the Sling TV website to access Willow Cricket packages. Pick the package of your choice and click “check out.”
- Create an Account and Check Out
You’ll be prompted to create a Sling account. Follow along with the signup wizard and check out to get a Sling TV package with Willow HD and Willow Xtra. There’s a hurdle here. You’ll need a U.S. card to check out, and using PayPal with the VPN puts your account at risk of closure. The workaround is to get a Sling TV gift card from Walmart or Best Buy.
- Watch Live Cricket with Willow TV
Launch Sling, click “guide” and select “sports” to see all live cricket games on the Willow TV channel. Select your favorite cricket match and start streaming without any interruption.
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Can You Watch Live Cricket Matches With a Willow TV Free Trial
Unfortunately, Willow TV doesn’t offer a free trial. The story is the same with the streaming services that carry Willow TV Xtra and Willow HD. You can’t watch live cricket matches with a Willow TV free trial. Luckily, as mentioned earlier, Sling TV offers plenty of affordable packages to ensure you don’t miss your favorite cricket match.
The Best VPNs to Watch Cricket in the USA
We tested the capability of various VPNs regarding unblocking Sling TV and settled on ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Proton VPN. The VPNs accessed Sling TV without much struggle and should provide a good streaming experience. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty details of how each service performed to help you make a more informed decision.
1. ExpressVPN
Pros:
- Great unblocking ability
- Fast download speeds
- Servers in over 15 U.S. cities
Cons:
- Pricey
During our testing, ExpressVPN proved again why its unblocking ability is unmatched. It accessed Sling TV outside the U.S. and enabled us to create an account and stream live cricket without video lag. It has servers in over 15 cities in the U.S., giving sports fans outside the U.S. a large pool of IP addresses.
In addition, the British Virgin Islands-based provider posts blazing-fast download speeds that barely dip with distance. Whether you’re accessing Sling TV in Canada, India, Europe or Australia, you’ll enjoy lag-free streaming. Beyond fast speeds, you get unlimited bandwidth and data, allowing you to stream cricket matches without fear of getting cut off in the middle.
ExpressVPN epitomizes the saying “good things don’t come cheap.” Compared to other VPN services, it’s pretty expensive. However, the service offers huge bang for your buck, considering its streaming performance and top-notch security and privacy. Read our full ExpressVPN review to learn more.
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
2. NordVPN
Pros:
- Fast connection speeds
- Relatively cheap
- More than 1,970 U.S. servers
Cons:
- Server breached in 2018
NordVPN doesn’t boast the unblocking ability of ExpressVPN; you have to switch servers to find a way around BBC iPlayer geoblocks. That aside, we’ve never experienced any hitch with NordVPN when opening U.S.-based streaming services. It unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max and Hulu on the first attempt, so expect the same result with Sling TV.
In terms of speed, NordVPN is the fastest VPN out there. The latest results from our automated testing show that the Panama-based provider has slightly faster download speeds than our top pick. It also records insignificant ping, meaning that videos load like local sessions regardless of your distance from the server.
Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and data, but is cheaper. The monthly plan is on the higher side of the pricing spectrum, but extended plans offer significant discounts. Read our comprehensive NordVPN review to learn more.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Proton VPN
Pros:
- Unlimited data on free plan
- Free U.S. servers
- Top-notch security & privacy
Cons:
- Sluggish during peak hours
Proton VPN is the best free VPN, and it’s not surprising it snags a spot on this list. First, the VPN service offers unlimited data — a rarity with free services. You can watch cricket on Sling TV without worrying about getting cut off during an intense match.
Regarding unblocking ability, Proton VPN isn’t in the same echelon as our top two picks. It unblocked major streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus and Sling TV, during our testing, but there were instances when we had to change servers to find a way around the streaming geoblocks.
Proton VPN’s speeds dip slightly with distance, meaning folks watching Willow in Canada will enjoy a faster experience than cricket fans in Europe. The provider also tends to push free users to overloaded servers, which can result in unserviceable speeds during peak hours. Read more in our Proton VPN review and learn more about the benefits of upgrading to a paid plan.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
Final Thoughts
You now know how to watch cricket on Sling with Willow TV. The Willow TV and Sling TV partnership is music to the ears of cricket fans in the U.S. and other parts of the world. The two streaming services work in tandem to deliver several hundred days of exciting live cricket.
If you’re a U.S. resident traveling abroad or are just outside the U.S., you’ll need a VPN to access Sling TV. ExpressVPN is undoubtedly the best VPN for Sling TV, thanks to its unmatched unblocking ability and fast connection speeds.
NordVPN is a speedy, more affordable alternative, and Proton VPN is worth considering if you’re on the hunt for a free option.
Have you watched cricket on Sling TV with Willow TV? Did you use a VPN to access the streaming service? Which VPN did you use, and were you satisfied with its performance? We’d love to hear about it in the comment section, and thank you for reading.
The post How to Watch Cricket on Sling TV With Willow TV: Live Television for Cricket Fans appeared first on Cloudwards.
